Are you using Twitter? Are you following so many people, in hopes to have them follow you, that you can’t keep track of even one conversation? Are you following people you don’t even want to follow out of guilt because they are following you? If you answered yes, to any of these questions you may be experiencing Twitter Bondage and there is hope!

Twitter pro, Kim Dushinski, has a fantastic post on the Twitter Do’s and Twitter Don’ts that will not only encourage you to say “no” to people you don’t want to follow, but explain how to escape Twitter bondage by just being “yourself”……….

“Tweet what you want about whatever topics you want. It is up to your Followers to decide whether or not they want to join in. If you have a multifaceted life (like we all do) it is OK to tweet both personal and work related topics. I would suggest finding a balance if you are using Twitter for professional reasons or you might drive away work-minded followers. But don’t be afraid to share some of yourself too.”

“You don’t have to follow everyone back who follows you. Certainly not the bots or the spammers, but even real people. Maybe someone tweets about something all the time that is simply not of interest to you or maybe contrary to what you believe. Just don’t follow them and don’t feel guilty about it. They chose to follow you. Also, it is OK to give yourself a limit of how many people you want to follow.”

I am somewhat relieved that Kim put this great list together. I have read countless posts that tell you you must follow a gazillion people to get a gazillion to follow you, or that you should definitely follow everyone who follows you. The truth is, no has the time to read everyone they follow so why not just follow the ones you want to read?

This last weekend I was out of town and I came home to about 25 new Twitter followers. Once I weeded through the Twitter spam (personal yachts.com), I was able to decide who I wanted to follow. Kim’s post made me realize that it’s not about following people as much as it is about following conversations and I have been feeling guilty if I did not follow everyone who follows me. Now I am happy to say that I am free from Twitter Bondage and able to enjoy the conversations of my choice.

BTW, If you want to follow me on Twitter……

I am thrilled to announce that after many tears and much begging, Lee has been bugged by me gracious enough to include Social Media Mom in this week’s update on the Search Marketing Blog’s BigList.

This is quite an honor for me to be included with so many SEO and Social Media experts that I respect and admire. I would also like to extend a big thank you to those who left encouraging words when I wrote about not making the original Big List; Nick and Kimberly, you rock and will always be a part of my “big list”!

Social Media Mom did not make the list, the BigList that is. So in my attempt to make the next big list, I thought I would explain what the BigList is and how to get on it……….

“a collection of over 400 blogs maintained by the staff at TopRank Online Marketing. This edited list includes blogs that cover a range of internet marketing topics ranging from SEO (search engine optimization) and PPC (pay per click) to blog marketing, marketing with social media and online public relations.”

To get on the list you must post at least once a week on topics that pertain to search marketing. Other things to consider would be your blog’s design, usability, writing style and quality of the content.

Here are some of my favorites that made this week’s list:

aimClear Search Marketing Blog

Esteban Panzera

Ignite Social Media

Learning SEO Basics

Pandemic Blog

SEO Smarty

Social Desire

Congrats to all who made the BigList and to those who didn’t, well it gives us something to strive for.

Isn’t it funny how many social media sites include voting elements of some kind like Sphinns, Diggs and my favorite, the Thumbs Up? Now, I am asking all of you to vote again, except this time, it is not on a social media site it is for the Social Media Ninja Award over at Collective Thoughts.

The bloggers over at Collective Thoughts, held a contest to see who thinks they are a Social Media Ninja in 250 words or less. Of course, I entered because I never pass up to enter a contest and believe it or not, I am now a finalist.

Here’s what you have to do to vote:
1 – Go to this post.
2 – Please only vote for one candidate.
3 – Votes must be received by Tuesday, January 8th, 2008 at midnight GMT.
4 – Candidates cannot vote for themselves.
5 – The decision of the Collective Thoughts team is final.

The finalist are all awesome and I have already added most of them to my network of contacts in the various social media sites that we all frequent, so even if I don’t win, I have found some great folks to follow, stalk and mixx with!

Thanks Brian!